COUNCIL DENIES APPLICATION FOR RECOVERY HOUSE BEDS

Five planned drug-addiction recovery beds won't open in Port
Coquitlam, after council defeated a bylaw variance application Monday.

The InnerVisions Recovery Society applied to the city for four
additional beds at its 1937 Prairie Ave. facility, and one bed at its
1933 Prairie Ave. residence.

The society says additional spaces are required at each site to make
treatment programs economically viable, as costs increase.

Port Coquitlam's community and economic development committee
recommended that council deny InnerVisions' application, since the
existing facilities already fail to conform to city bylaws, and
provincial regulations relating to group homes are uncertain.

The two houses, which sit next to each other on Prairie, were
grandfathered when the city brought in its personal care use zoning,
which states that group homes must be 300 metres apart from each
other. Another stipulation of the zoning is that group homes must be
limited to 10 people. InnerVisions' development variance permit
application requests 14 beds in one facility and 11 in the other.

Mayor Scott Young, who voted to defeat the application, said the uses
permitted in single family zones have increased, and a balance must be
struck.

"Council has juggled a lot of needs in terms of the single-family use
zonings these days," Young said. "We've got increased use in home
businesses, we've got legalized secondary suites, we've got more home
care taking place, we have alcohol and recovery treatment - to name
just a few of the activities taking place in single family zoning.

"What I think we have to do is remind ourselves, first and foremost,
is that the single-family zone's primary function is that of the
peaceful enjoyment and comfort of residential living."

The staff report also stated that neighbours may object to the
expansion.

"The city is also aware that the presence of these homes in
residential neighbourhoods is a concern to some people in the
community," the report stated. "The zoning bylaw regulation permits a
maximum of 10 persons in care, which is considered to be
reasonable."

Coun. Greg Moore said he voted in favour of moving the application
forward to a public hearing, to allow residents to share their views.

"I wanted to engage the public and hear from them and have this
discussion, this debate, in public," he said.

He is concerned about a lack of provincial regulation for recovery and
rehabilitation houses. The province recently passed the new Community
Care Facility and Assisted Living Act, which allows groups homes to
operate without a formal licence, provided they contain 10 people or
less.

"(The act) overrides all of our land-use zoning bylaws," Moore said.
"I completely appreciate and understand that we need to put group
homes in Port Coquitlam, absolutely. But we need to have more control
over where, the size and location of group homes."

Coun. Michael Wright, who also voted to see the application proceed to
public hearing, said he's concerned with the lack of regulations
regarding recovery houses.

"My view is that they should be regulated," he said, adding that an
unqualified person could open up a group home under the current act.

"I think the provincial government should be putting down requirements
as to the qualifications of people who run it ... It has nothing to do
with the neighbours, it has to do with the people who think they are
going to get a benefit from this group home."

Wright said the fact that the application was denied is not a
reflection on the society. In the 11 years it has been in Port
Coquitlam, he said, he's only heard one complaint - which was resolved
after the resident's questions were answered.

InnerVisions could not be reached for comment.